Folding stretcher



c; HAGGARD ETAL FOLDING STBETGHER Filed Oct. 18, 1545 2 Sheets-Shed l Claude 62H John 15 myfmr@ ATTD R N EYB C. C. HAGGARD ETAL FOLDING STRETCHER Filed Oct. 18, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 llll "/0 -aiiieilliii,Q-

INH- ATTORNEYS IN V EN TORS.

Q) Hagkard fohn B. Meeha11 czazgde c.

Patented Oct. 22, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FOLDING STRETCHER.

Claude C. Haggard and John B. Meehan, Medford, Oreg.

Application October 18, 1943, Serial No. 506,730

2 Claims.

Thi invention has for its object the provision of a, compact folding stretcher of an improved design particularly adapted to the emergency handling of fracture or other similar cases wherein rigidity of posture and freedom from movement of the patient on the stretcher under adverse carrying conditions is assured.

Another object of the invention is to provide a stretcher of an improved design to be folded into the minimum space possible for facility in nonuse transportation without the necessity of disassembling any part thereof and without sacrificing rigidity of construction or efficiency when in actual use.

'Another object of the invention is to provide a stretcher which lends itself to efficienttransportation of the patient equally well in an ambulance, private automobile, or plane either in a vertical, horizontal or other position as necessitated by transportation conditions without disturbing stretcher.

The invention is detailed and illustrated by the drawings which form a part of this specification, and in which Figure 1 is a top plan view showing the stretcher extended and ready for use.

Figure 2 is a view in side elevation of the stretcher as shown in Figure 1, illustrating the manner in which the stretcher may be transported in a conventional automobile.

Figure 3 is a bottom plan View of the stretcher in extended condition.

Figure 4 is a bottom plan View of the stretcher folded.

Figure 5 is a view in side elevation of the folded stretcher.

Figure 6 is a sectional view on the line 66 of Figure 3.

Figure 7 is a bottom plan view of fragmentary portion of one of the leg rests of the stretcher with the traction bracket applied thereto, and

Figure 8 is a view in side elevation of the parts shown in Figure '7.

Referring in detail to the drawings, I designates the body section and 2 the leg section of the stretcher. These parts are made of spruce, white pine or other suitable light-weight material. The body section I and the leg section are connected together by a rod 3 which extends transversely of the sections and which adapts them to be arranged in folded or extended relation. When in extended relation, the body section I and leg section 2 occupy a common plane with the inner portion of the leg section fitting the posture of the patient on the in a recess I in the inner portion of the body section. The pivot rod 3 is carried by lugs 3 fixed to the underside of the leg section 2, and the ends thereofare mounted in bearings 3 fixed to the underside of the body section 1. The body section l comprises side pieces l 9.. panel or board I and cross bars i all secured togetherin any suitable or well known manner.

Latches 4 secured to the undersides of the body section I and leg section 2, a, strip l0 secured to the underside of the body section and extending across the rear portion of the recess l for contact by the inner end of the leg section, and recesses H in the body section contacting with shoulders [2 on the leg section, positively hold the sections against any accidental relative movement while in extended relation. The latches 4 are similar in construction to a well known type of sash lock.

Blocks 9 secured to the underside of the body 7 of this section and have their ends: extended downwardly through slots 6 in the section and attached to the underside of the section. The board or panel I body section I is provided near its head end with slots 6 to permit the use of a head strap, not shown. The leg section 2 comprises two members, leg rests 2 of similar construction and arranged in spaced parallel relation, and said members are equipped with straps which pass spirally about the members and which have their ends attached to the undersides of the members and the underside of the body section I. The members 2 are held in proper relation by blocks l3 and M, a plate l3 secured to the under side of the members 2 and a tie rod l5. To permit the stretcher to be carried conveniently the body section I and leg section 2 are provided with openings 5 forming hand holds.

A folding leg section base [6 of L-form may, as shown in Figures '7 and 8, be detachably connected by a bolt I! to either leg rest 2 of the leg section 2. When attached to the stretcher, the bracket I6 presents horizontal and vertical arms l6 and I6 respectively. The horizontal arm I6 is attached to the underside of the leg rest 2 by the bolt H and it extends forwardly beyond the leg rest. The vertical bracket member l6 extends upwardly from the front end of the bracket arm I6 To enable them to be folded that the stretcher is of light-weight and is, when folded, comparatively small. It may be readily unfolded and the sections thereof quickly secured in extended relation. When in condition for use, the sections of the stretcher, which are themselves rigid, are rigidly connected together. The stretcher is equipped with means by which the head, body and/or legs of the patient may be immobilized. The folding leg section base I6,-

when used, increases the effective length of the leg section to which it is secured and constitutes a support for a foot of the patient. may be secured to the leg section base 86 by a strap, not shown, connected to the ankle and to the part I6 of the leg section base.

What is claimed is:

l. A stretcher comprising a body section provided at its inner end with a recess, a leg section having its inner end reduced and extending into the recess of the body section, a pivot rod carried by said reduced portion intermediate its ends The foot 4 and mounted in bearings carried by the body section, the inner end of the main portion of the leg sections adapted to engage the inner end of the body section, and a latch connection between the inner reduced end of the leg section and the body section.

2. A stretcher comprising a body section provided at its inner end with a recess, a leg section having its inner end located in said recess, a rod pivotallyconnecting said ends to adapt th sections to be arranged in extended or folded relation, a strip secured to the body section and extending across the recess for contact by the inner end of the leg section when the sections are in extended relation, shoulders on the body and leg sections contacting with each other when the sections are in extended relation, and latch members secured to the body andleg sections and engaging each other when the sections are in extended relation, said strip and shoulders and latch members constituting means for securing the sections against relative pivotal movement when in extended relation.

CLAUDE C. HAGGARD. JOHN B. MEEHAN. 

